Sulaymaniyah
Female entrepreneur pioneers mobile Kurdish bakery
SULAYMANIYAH – Shokh Nasreen, a mother of four, has launched a unique business, driving a small truck through the city’s streets to sell homemade Kurdish bread, known as “Tiri.” Nasreen, who has been proficient in driving manual vehicles since 2007—a rare skill among Iraqi women—initially shied away from recognition. Over time, however, she embraced her growing venture as locals began to acknowledge and support her.
“Starting anything is difficult,” Nasreen said. “I worked in factories initially, then faced unemployment. That’s when I decided to make Kurdish bread, complementing it with dairy products and pastries as per customer requests.” She operates her business with assistance from her children and two other women.
Her story echoes that of other women forging a new path in the Kurdistan Region’s local economies. Suham Mohammed of Duhok has recently become the city’s first female taxi driver. With nearly three months of driving experience, Mohammed not only supports her family but also manages a successful bakery. At 45, she has run her bakery for six years, employing several women and offering breakfast services.
Sulaymaniyah woman champions recycling with innovative Sulicycle
